New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-07
IN BANKRUPTCY.

| Noiselesss revolutions arc the deepest and most
far-rcaching Government by Democratic repre-
scntatives has failed, and assignees in bank
ruptcy have been managing the estate for three
months. The completeness of the change wa
felt by numbers who could not catch the eye OF
the Speaker during the last session, that is
whom he refused to recognize so that they could
make motions regarding the interests Of their
constituents. If representative of the people
cannot even make motion, from one end OF the
session to the other. what good can he possibly
do! He offers bills and they go to committees
These committees are appointed by one man.
But favoring report of committee, II OBJ
tanned. is of small consequence in the modern
form Of legislation. The one man who makes
the committees. and two other men, then decide
what measures shall be permitted to occupS
the hme If these three men will,
the representative Of the people may
have opportunity to vote whether he
approves or not the measures they propose De-
liberation. according to this method. consists in
roll call on the previous question. Chance
to amend chance to bring forward the measures
of vital interest to his constituents. the repre-
sentative of the people has none except by favor
of the three assignccs IN bankruptcy.
Wisdom is justified of her children and this
modern method, il has been acknowledged Sc
cured much better results during the late short
session than were secured during tho seven
months of a long session by the attempt of in
capable representatives to make laws. Their
future was so absolute that no voice was raised
in objection when i, was proposed to assign the
powers of the majority TO Speaker Carlisle. MIR.
Morrison and Mr. Randall. The representatives
have chafed under the restraint but with little
reason. They have really served their constitu-
ents better on the whole by assigning their
power than they could have done by trying 10
use it, just as the hopelcSslS incompetent trader
knows that sensible assignee will got moro
out Of the business than he could get himself.
But not many of the Democratic members
realize what far reaching change they have
made.
Government by aSSignces in bankruptcy comes
only when government by caucus has become
impossible. The people entrust party withpowcr
They expect it to act as party with respect to
lines Of public policy and all details essential
thereto, and they cntrust to individual repre-
sentativcs the care of local interests where
these can be served without conflicting with
The general good. In the caucus the collective
sense Of the party finds expression. But the
Democratic party found it had no collective
sense. As party, it could not como to any
opinion on any subject. Necessarily it had to
ab1cate. Government 10y party became inn
possible; government 10y assignccs in bankruptcy
was the only resource left As one passing
wheel in thick mud makes rut from which
later wheels escape With difficulty, so this pre-
cedcnt will hardly he avoided in future Demo
cratic Houses, which will inevitably find that
Democratic representatives cannot possibly agree
In caucus upon any policy.
Thus it is seen that the change is radical
and is likely to last as long us there is
Democratic majority in the House. 1t cannot
tc avoided until the Democratic party can adopt
some policy respecting the tariff, the finances
and the expenditures for large Government
needs on which its members can unite. OF
this there is now no prospect. Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. Randall are as far apart in this matter a.
the Republican and Democratic leaders. To
drive out Mr.. Randall is TO throw away all
chance of carrying any Eastern or Middle
State, and that would turn the Democrat,
party into tie outer darkness Of Presidential
defeat and permanent loss of power and OF
hope. The party can carry on tic Government
st all only by acknowledging that it has no
collective Dcnse which can bc expressed in
CAUCUS. no common purpose for which It's
members can act together. and by substituting
government by asSgnccs in bankruptcy.